New York officials, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, Police Commissioner James O'Niell and Gov. Andrew Cuomo also joined the global celebration by leading marches and taking the time to share what St. Patrick's Day means to them.

"This time when they're trying to separate us in this country and they're trying to pull us apart," Cuomo said. "We say we are New York, we're Irish, we're Italian, we're Jewish, we're Muslim. you attack one of us, you attack all of us."

The marchers came from all walks of life -- military members, teachers and students, police and firefighters, politicians, plumbers and steamfitters. Many said the New York parade is even better than the one in Ireland.

Heavily armed officers kept a no-nonsense eye on security around the parade route as a pipe band played "God Bless America."

The New York National Guard's "Fighting 69th" brought its mascots -- Irish wolfhounds.